Video Contest......Check It Out

Looks like a pretty cool video contest. Cash prizes and a good message.
Check it out.

Sounds like a good event....Check it out.......

Good people over at Montclair State University. I wish they would mention who some of the guest speakers will be. You can find more details and register at www.montclairnjfilmfestival.org.

As the first marking period comes to an end.......

I am learning a great deal about my students this year. Their unpredictability has become more evident to me the first two months of this year than all of last year.
Likes, dislikes, interests, focus, and priorities all change like the fall winds.
A common thread however is the stress today's high school students deal with. When I was a high school student back in the 70's, things seemed much more uncomplicated. I wasn't dealing with the world's problems, I was worrying about when the next WHO album was to be released. I was a so-so students, I went to college, discovered what interested me (television), went on to have a successful career, and now am enjoying teaching as much as anything I have done in my life. My parents were very uninvolved in my education, both in high school, and in college. Is that a bad thing? I really don't think so. I motivated myself without pressure, I went by my own pace, my own successes and failures. I turned out alright.
Has today's ever-present technology, made life for our students more complex? The kids seem so pre-occupied worrying about who is texting who, what their favorite celebrity is Tweeting, who has the latest "cool" gadget, and which "single" song is coming out on Itunes. Maybe that is the problem, TIME! I would sit and listen to an ENTIRE album, over and over. Reading the lyrics, scanning the album art, and savoring every moment of my purchase. While today the kids are finished with their song in three minutes, and then are looking for something else to do immediately. Just maybe, today's kids have to sit down, relax, and do something for more than three minutes. Maybe they shouldn't worry about the future, instead they should let the future come to them, slowly. They should absorb all that is around them, discover what "MOVES" them, and then make choices. It may be a corny cliche but maybe they should take a little time and smell the roses.
I preach to my students all the time about finding a passion. Look towards the future with an eye on your bank account, but more importantly knowing that if you really, truly love what you do, a vocation will never be WORK.
I look forward to meeting with some of my students parents/guardians at school conferences this week.
Enjoy Sunday,
Mr. Butler

WJSV enters the digital age, Part II

WJSV is planning to improve its on-air capabilities with the Mega Seg DJ program. This program will allow for digital logging, cross-fades, pre-built playlists and much more. Students can't wait for the arrival of this product. 
Instructional seminars will be held to ease in the transfer to the Mega Seg.

Good education piece on TED

Will the future of education in the United States follow this British lead?
Good stuff, thanks Zaji.

Final Cut Pro X News.....

Apple responds to some criticism.

Driving cars and getting jobs.....

I have realized early in my second year as a teacher that kids interests will change from year to year. As the advisor of a thriving radio and TV club at Morristown High School, I have discovered that your gung-ho students one year are not necessarily as engaged the following year. Cars, jobs, girlfriends, boyfriends, homework load, and other factors determine who is active one year and missing in action the next.


At first I was taking it personally, thinking that perhaps the luster had worn off of the new teacher. But then I harkened back to my high school days and remembered how my likes and dislikes changed from year to year.


One thing remains certain, we have a great deal of dedicated members and have already begun recruiting from the class of 2015.


Mr. Butler